'It is frightening': Neighbours in shock as couple named locally after fatal Ballinlough attack
A man in his 20s has been arrested after a woman died and a man was seriously injured in a stabbing incident in Ballinlough, in Cork, on Monday night.
The couple have been named locally as Stella and Brian Gallagher who had been living in the estate for around 20 years and worked as chemical engineers, a neighbour said.
They were parents to four grown up children — three sons and one daughter.
Gardaí and emergency services were called to Shrewsbury Downs at around 9.15pm following reports from neighbours of an incident outside a residence.
Members of the Armed Support Unit also responded to the scene.
A WhatsApp group for the estate sent a message warning residents to stay inside and lock their doors immediately after the incident shortly after 9pm last night.
The couple were taken to Cork University Hospital with critical injuries.
Ms Gallagher was later pronounced dead, while her husband, Brian, remains in a serious but stable condition having undergone emergency surgery
Her body has been removed to the morgue at Cork University Hospital, where an autopsy is expected to take place on Tuesday afternoon.
A man in his 20s, who is known to the couple, was arrested at the scene and is being held at a Cork City garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The man was armed with a knife.
It is understood that gardaí need to ascertain whether the man is medically fit to be questioned at this time and he was scheduled to be seen by a doctor on Monday evening.
The knife believed to have been used in the incident has been retrieved by gardaí.
Neighbours in the estate of large detached red-brick houses said they were shocked by the tragic news.
“I heard shouting last night and saw a man run past,” one neighbour, who asked not to be named, said.
“I locked my doors. I’m still in shock. This is a lovely, quiet neighbourhood.”
The couple were quiet and there were never any problems with them, another neighbour, who also asked not to be named, said.
“I hope he [Mr Gallagher] pulls through. It’s such a tragedy.
“Everyone here is in shock.”
Two red brick houses and the green area at Shrewsbury Downs remain cordoned off this morning for a technical examination.
A ground floor window was smashed on the neighbouring house with a plant pot shattered below it, its bright red flowers collapsing from chunks of disturbed soil across the otherwise tidy footpath.
It is understood Mrs Gallagher managed to make it to a nearby green area before being fatally injured.
A local doctor had rushed out to help the deceased before she was transported by ambulance to CUH last night, a neighbour said.
Two members of An Garda Síochána were carrying out door to door inquiries shortly before 10am today.
The scene has been preserved for forensic examination by the Cork City Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit. Gardaí said the Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and an autopsy will be arranged.
A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed, and an incident room has been established at Anglesea Street Garda Station.
A Family Liaison Officer has also been assigned to support the relatives of the deceased.
In an interview with Newstalk Taoiseach Michael Martin described the death of a 59 year old woman in a stabbing incident as “very, very sad news for the neighbourhood.”
“And I live in that neighbourhood. This is totally unexpected and I can only think of the family and friends of the family who have been impacted by this awful incident.”
A resident of the estate said he was shocked at what had unfolded in their quiet neighbourhood.
“It is frightening to think that it could happen on your doorstep," he told Paul Byrne on .
"That you could look out your window and see people lying out there. Especially when you have young kids living here and playing out on the green here. It is frightening that the value of life is diminishing.”
The man said that he wasn’t at home when the incident took place. He became aware of the unfolding situation when his wife contacted him.
“She was ringing. Other neighbours were ringing leaving messages to stay indoors for now.”
Another neighbour said that the gardaí responded very quickly on Monday night.
“It was great to see that (the speed at which gardaí arrived.) We are shocked. We have never ever seen anything like this.”
A local woman said that it was “shocking” to see such a tragedy hit the area in the run up to Christmas.”
She said that violent deaths were “happening too often.”
“It [violent death] is happening too often.”
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who was in the Shrewsbury Downs area between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Monday and who may have home security or dash-cam footage.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda Station on 021 452 2000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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